The EU welcomes two more members

"Although the West regards them as twins, the two new member states live with their backs to each other," writes Norbert Mappes-Niediek. "Despite the great differences between the cities and landscape of these two countries, both nations are now looking to the EU. 'We always knew that we were part of Europe' said Romanian President Traian Basescu, 'even back in the 1950s under communist rule.' He adds that it is difficult for Romanians to accept 'that others decide whether we belong to Europe or not'. Bulgaria makes no such confident claims regarding a 'reunification of Europe' that was long overdue anyway. According to opinion pollster Rumjana Butscharowa, in Bulgaria 'it's taking time for people to get used to the idea of being part of Europe'. ... However, as far as their political systems are concerned there are striking similarities between these two very dissimilar countries: after the fall of communism in 1989 both countries went through a long-drawn-out post-communist phase before they finally decided to take a more liberal approach – virtually simultaneously – from 1997 on."

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